Conor Benn, the British boxing star who has both thrilled and divided fans over the past decade, has shaken up the fight world again—this time outside the ring. On February 20, 2026, Benn officially signed a blockbuster, one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, the upstart promotional outfit led by UFC president Dana White and heavily backed by Saudi Arabia’s Sela company. The deal, reportedly worth eight figures, marks the end of Benn’s long and eventful tenure with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and signals a new era for both Benn and the sport at large.
Benn, now 29, has become one of boxing’s most recognizable faces since debuting as a professional in 2016. He’s compiled a record of 24 wins, 1 loss, with 14 knockouts, and his journey has been anything but dull. Most recently, Benn faced Chris Eubank Jr twice at middleweight, losing a hard-fought battle in April 2025 before exacting revenge with a convincing victory in their November rematch at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both contests drew tens of thousands of fans and kept the British boxing scene buzzing.
But Benn’s story is also one of controversy and resilience. In 2022, he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug, clomifene, ahead of a much-anticipated clash with Eubank Jr. The fallout from those failed tests sidelined Benn from British rings for nearly three years, from April 2022 until his return in April 2025. Throughout the ordeal, Matchroom and Hearn stood firmly by his side, supporting Benn through thick and thin. “From guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows, they were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times,” Benn said in a heartfelt statement. “It’s been a journey beyond anything we could have imagined, and for their belief, support and guidance, I will always be truly grateful, but Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse.”
Despite the split, Benn made it clear he hopes Hearn will remain involved in his corner: “I’d love Eddie to continue to be part of my team and for our partnership to evolve in this new chapter.” The timing of the move is particularly notable, coming just days after Matchroom and streaming partner DAZN announced a new five-year deal—using Benn’s image in their promotional materials. Yet, the allure of Zuffa’s ambitious plans and financial muscle proved irresistible.
So what drew Benn to Zuffa, and why now? The company, still in its infancy, recently staged its third event, headlined by a heavyweight clash between Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. While Zuffa’s roster already includes IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, Benn’s signing arguably gives the fledgling promotion its first true global star. Dana White, never one for understatement, welcomed Benn with open arms: “Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar. He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out. He’s ready for a world title next, and I can’t wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing.”
Benn himself is brimming with anticipation: “I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing. I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.”
Yet, Benn’s future weight class remains an open question. While he fought Eubank Jr at middleweight (160 lbs), his natural division is welterweight (147 lbs), and he’s made no secret of his desire to return there and chase world honors. As of December 2025, the WBC ranked Benn as their No. 1 welterweight, making him the mandatory challenger for the title. That belt is on the line this weekend in Las Vegas, with Mario Barrios set to face Ryan Garcia. Benn has already stated, “I want the winner early next year. Q1, God willing, that WBC world title is mine. I’ll be coming for that belt, and Britain will have a new world champion. Let’s have it.”
However, Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport is shaking up more than just fighter contracts. The promotion plans to recognize only eight weight divisions, including welterweight and middleweight, and is seeking to introduce its own title belts. This bold move could upend boxing’s traditional sanctioning system, especially if Zuffa’s ambitions are realized through proposed amendments to the Ali Act in the United States. White himself has stated he intends to “do my own thing,” distancing Zuffa from established organizations like the WBC and IBF. Whether Benn’s standing as WBC’s top contender will matter remains to be seen.
The business and political intrigue doesn’t stop there. Zuffa Boxing is majority-owned by Sela, a Saudi Arabian entertainment giant, with Turki Alalshikh—chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority—playing a pivotal role. This financial firepower has already raised eyebrows across the industry and fueled a war of words between White and Hearn. White recently blasted Hearn and Matchroom for lacking vision and failing to innovate: “There hasn’t been any pushback, this is like beating up babies. I feel like I came in and I’m beating up babies. I expected more, I expected some pushback, I expected some... I don’t know, [for] them to be more game. They’re all way out of their league – like absolutely, positively out of their league.”
Hearn, never one to shy away from a scrap, fired back by questioning Zuffa’s credibility and event quality. “At the moment, Dana White’s vision is staging mediocre fights in his garage in front of about 112 people, with fighters like Callum Walsh, and [analyst] Max Kellerman telling you: ‘This guy, I think, is the next Roy Jones [Jr].’ Or headlining with Charles Martin on a Sunday night, saying: ‘This is like [Muhammad] Ali vs [Larry] Holmes, this match-up.’ They’re trying to manipulate the boxing fans, who won’t fall for it because they’re not idiots, but maybe the wider world will.” Hearn also pointed out that with Sela’s Saudi backing, White now answers to Turki Alalshikh, flipping White’s earlier jibe about Hearn working for his father.
As the promotional rivalry intensifies, Benn’s move could prove pivotal for both his career and the direction of the sport. For Zuffa, it’s a chance to break into the UK market—especially with talks reportedly ongoing for a broadcast deal with Sky Sports. For Benn, it’s an opportunity to headline on new stages and, perhaps, secure the legacy fights he craves. Yet, questions linger: Will Zuffa’s new belts gain legitimacy? Can Benn’s WBC ranking translate to a title shot under Zuffa’s banner? And will the promotional warfare between White and Hearn elevate or overshadow the action in the ring?
For now, one thing is certain: Conor Benn’s leap to Zuffa Boxing has jolted the boxing world. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see where this bold new chapter leads—both for Benn and for the ever-evolving sport of boxing.